Pictures: Celebrating 175 years of Baltimore Sun photos

Caption1901: First photo

Baltimore Sun file photo

The Sun made history on Sept. 30, 1901, two weeks after Theodore Roosevelt became president after President William McKinley's assassination. The Sun ran a photograph. It was a profile shot (right) of Chief Judge James McSherry of the Court of Appeals of Maryland to illustrate a brief story announcing the start of the court's fall term.

The Sun made history on Sept. 30, 1901, two weeks after Theodore Roosevelt became president after President William McKinley's assassination. The Sun ran a photograph. It was a profile shot (right) of Chief Judge James McSherry of the Court of Appeals of Maryland to illustrate a brief story announcing the start of the court's fall term. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

The Great Baltimore Fire started on the morning of Feb. 7, 1904, at John E. Hurst building located near present day 1st Mariner Arena. The first alarm sounded at 10:48 a.m. and the fire quickly spread, eventually destroying 1,500 buildings over 140 acres. In this particular shot The Alexander Brown and Company building was the only one to survive in the immediate area.

The Great Baltimore Fire started on the morning of Feb. 7, 1904, at John E. Hurst building located near present day 1st Mariner Arena. The first alarm sounded at 10:48 a.m. and the fire quickly spread, eventually destroying 1,500 buildings over 140 acres. In this particular shot The Alexander Brown and Company building was the only one to survive in the immediate area. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

The age of photojournalism had just dawned in Baltimore in 1901. Since then, the camera has recorded and compiled a historical visual record of the events that have shaped the world, nation and Maryland, in the 20th century and now the 21st. The technology has evolved from flash powder erupting in a great "poof" to today's digital imagery -- no darkroom required. The Sun has been fortunate to have such talented photographers as Hans Marx, A. Aubrey Bodine, Frank Miller, Richard Stacks, Ellis Malashuk, LeRoy B. Merriken, Walter McCardell, Jed Kirschbaum -- and many others -- whose names and work through the years have become synonymous with the news pages of The Sun. Here is just a sampling of their fine work. Also see: 25 great moments in Maryland sports history